A significant effort worldwide is being directed toward
development of novel biocides against drug-resistant
bacterial and viruses because of the significant potential
human infection risks in the general population. We
report here the discovery of a strong antiviral biocide,
dialdheyde starch (DAS). Antiviral tests were carried
out against three non-envelop viruses, including two
bacterial viruses MS2 and PRD1, and one human virus
Poliovirus. Dialdehyde starch aqueous suspensions were
effective biocides against these three test viruses in a 1
hr exposure test. The antiviral activity was significantly
enhanced in a four-hour exposure test, with maximum
seven orders of magnitude reductions against MS2 and
PRD1, and four-order reduction against Poliovirus. The
antiviral activity of dialdehyde starch was found to be
pH dependent, being more active in alkaline and acidic
conditions than in neutral conditions.